FILE – A maintenance worker walks on the side of a locomotive in the Union Pacific Railroad fueling yard in north Denver, Oct. 18, 2006. Union Pacific will renew its push for one-person train crews later this summer when the railroad tests out the idea of having a conductor in a truck respond to problems on trains in Nebraska and Colorado. UP’s Jason Pinder confirmed the pilot program Monday, July 17, 2023, when he testified against a proposed Kansas rule that would require two-person crews. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Union Pacific will renew its push for one-person train crews later this summer when the railroad tests out the idea of having a conductor in a truck respond to problems on trains in Nebraska and Colorado. Union Pacific will continue using two crew members on its trains during the test, but railroad officials believe this could bolster their case in future negotiations for cutting crew size if it is successful. A UP executive confirmed the plan Monday when he testified against a proposed Kansas rule that would require two-person crews. All the rail unions have long opposed cutting train crews down to one because of safety concerns, but the conductors’ union agreed to let Union Pacific test this idea.

Yardley Makefield Marine Rescue leaving the Yardley Boat Ramp along N. River Road heading down the Delaware River on Monday morning July 17, 2023, in Yardley, Pa. Search and rescue units are looking for two lost children caught in flood waters Saturday. (Alejandro A. Alvarez/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP)

WASHINGTON CROSSING, Pa. (AP) — The search for a missing 2-year-old girl and her 9-month-old brother who were swept away from their car during flash flooding over the weekend carried into a fourth day. Upper Makefield Township police in a social media post thanked the countless volunteers who’ve come forward to assist but say their assistance isn’t necessary. Some 100 officials along with drones and cadaver dogs have combed the area near the creek that drains into the Delaware River. A news conference is set for Tuesday afternoon.

HARRISBURG, PA:  The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) reported today that the combined total revenue generated from all forms of gaming, along with fantasy contests, during June 2023 was $440,491,675, an increase of 13% compared to revenue generated in June 2022.

 

Sources of gaming revenue regulated by the PGCB include slot machines, table games, internet gaming, sports wagering, fantasy contests and video gaming terminals (VGTs). The PGCB has posted separate reports for these types of gaming on its website, https://gamingcontrolboard.pa.gov/.

 

(New Brighton, PA) As repair work continues on State Route 65, PennDOT District 11 is announcing overnight operations in New Brighton Borough and Daugherty Township.  Beginning on Monday, July 31, roadway improvement work will occur between the hours of 8:00 AM to 6:00 AM on State Route 65 from Fifth Avenue in New Brighton Borough to North Avenue in Daugherty Township.

Residents and motorists should expect parking restrictions in the construction areas.  Drivers are reminded to allow extra time when traveling and to obey all posted traffic signs for the safety of those working on the roads.

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published July 18, 2023 10:45 A.M.

(Center Township, PA) Supervisor’s chairman Bill DiCioccio, Jr. reported that the planning commission approved the application and the township is to make a decision that will be rendered at the Monday, August  21, 2023 regular meeting which begins at 7 p.m.
The proposed auto rental agency will be next to the Beaver Valley Auto Mall located at the Beaver Valley Mall ,DiCiccio, said.

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing westbound ramp closures on Route 3014 (McKees Rocks Bridge) in McKees Rocks Borough, Allegheny County will begin next Monday, July 24 weather permitting.

Starting at 7 a.m. next Monday, a full closure of the westbound McKees Rocks Bridge off-ramp to Helen Street will occur through early October. Additionally, beginning Monday, July 31 a full closure of the westbound McKees Rocks Bridge on-ramp from Helen Street will occur through early September. Crews will perform work to replace the pavement on each ramp. A single lane of traffic will be maintained on the bridge.

Traffic on the closed ramps will be detoured.

Posted Detour
Route 65 to Helen Street

• From the intersection of Route 65 (Ohio River Boulevard) and the McKees Rocks Bridge, continue southbound on Route 65
• Take the ramp to Route 19/Route 51/West End Bridge
• Turn right onto northbound Route 51 (West Carson Street)
• Turn left on Stanhope Street
• Turn right on Linden Street
• Turn right on Route 51 (Island Avenue)
• Turn right onto the McKees Rocks Bridge
• Take the off-ramp to Helen Street
• End Detour

Helen Street to Route 51

• From Helen Street, take the ramp to McKees Rocks Bridge towards Route 65 (Ohio River Boulevard)
• Turn right onto southbound Route 65 (Ohio River Boulevard)

• Take the ramp to Route 19/Route 51/West End Bridge
• Turn right onto northbound Route 51 (West Carson Street)
• Turn left on Stanhope Street
• Turn right on Linden Street
• Turn right on Route 51 (Island Avenue)

• Continue following Route 51 (Island Avenue) to the McKees Rocks Bridge
• End Detour

The portion of the westbound pedestrian sidewalk between Helen Street and Route 51 (Island Avenue) will be open, however the previously closed section between Helen Street and Route 65 (Ohio River Boulevard) will remained closed.

Phase 2 of the $22.4 million McKees Rocks Bridge preservation project extends between Route 51 (Island Avenue) and Route 65 (Ohio River Boulevard) and includes sidewalk repairs and replacement, full-depth concrete pavement reconstruction of the road and four ramps at Helen Street, ADA curb ramp installation, approach pavement work at intersections of Routes 65 and 51, barrier repair, deck overhang and spall repair, fencing installation, and other miscellaneous construction. As work occurs, traffic will be reduced to a single lane in each direction, with occasional truck and turning-lane detours occurring at the West End Bridge as needed. The overall project is anticipated to conclude in the fall of 2025.

The Brayman Construction Corporation and Advantage Steel and Construction, LLC are the prime contractor.

To help keep motorists informed as work progresses, PennDOT has created an email distribution list for the McKees Rocks Bridge preservation including traffic advisories and construction updates. Enroll by sending email addresses to ymanyisha@pa.gov. Please write “Subscribe – McKees Rocks Bridge” in the subject line.

Motorists can check conditions on major roadways by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras. 511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional Twitter alerts.

Subscribe to PennDOT news and traffic alerts in Allegheny, Beaver and Lawrence counties at www.penndot.pa.gov/District11.

Information about infrastructure in District 11, including completed work and significant projects, is available at www.penndot.pa.gov/D11Results. Find PennDOT’s planned and active construction projects at www.projects.penndot.gov.

Follow PennDOT on Twitter and like the department on Facebook and Instagram.

Gas prices are two cents higher in Western Pennsylvania this week at $3.643 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report.

This week’s average prices: Western Pennsylvania Average                      $3.643
Average price during the week of July 10, 2023                                                $3.623
Average price during the week of July 18, 2022                                                $4.737

The average price of unleaded self-serve gasoline in various areas:      

$3.695      Altoona
$3.713      Beaver
$3.699      Bradford
$3.602      Brookville
$3.654      Butler
$3.655      Clarion
$3.596      DuBois
$3.656      Erie
$3.656      Greensburg
$3.695      Indiana
$3.582      Jeannette
$3.673      Kittanning
$3.654      Latrobe
$3.608      Meadville
$3.689      Mercer
$3.524      New Castle
$3.654      New Kensington
$3.693      Oil City
$3.668      Pittsburgh
$3.575      Sharon
$3.549      Uniontown
$3.699      Warren
$3.604      Washington

Trend Analysis:

Despite a notable cratering in gas demand in the days since the July Fourth holiday, pump prices crept higher over the past week in most of the country. Today’s national average of $3.565 is two cents more than a week ago, one cent less than a month ago and 97 cents lower than a year ago.

The main culprit is a higher price for oil, which moved from the upper $60s per barrel recently to the mid-$70s. Oil prices have increased partly due to rising market optimism that fewer interest rate hikes may be on the horizon. At the close of last Wednesday’s formal trading session, WTI increased by 92 cents to settle at $75.75.

According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gas demand decreased significantly from 9.6 to 8.76 million b/d last week. Meanwhile, total domestic gasoline stocks stayed flat at 219.5 million barrels. Although lower gas demand typically pushes pump prices lower, rising oil prices have lifted them. If oil prices continue to rise, pump prices will likely follow suit.

Motorists can find current gas prices nationwide, statewide, and countywide at gasprices.aaa.com.

ST. JOSEPH. Mo. (AP) — The Powerball jackpot rose yet again to an estimated $1 billion after no winning ticket was sold for the latest drawing.

No ticket for Monday’s drawing matched the white balls 5, 8, 9, 17, 41 and red Powerball 21. The jackpot was estimated at $900 million.

The new jackpot for Wednesday’s drawing would be the seventh highest in U.S. history and the third largest for Powerball. Ticket buyers have a chance at $1 billion paid out in yearly increments or a $516.8 million one-time lump sum before taxes.

Three people won $2 million after matching all five numbers plus the Power Play, lottery officials said. The winning tickets were sold in Arkansas, Georgia and Texas.

Five people won $1 million after matching all five numbers. The winning tickets were sold in Connecticut, Florida, Kentucky, New York and Pennsylvania.

The game’s abysmal odds of 1 in 292.2 million are designed to build big prizes that draw more players. The largest Powerball jackpot was $2.04 billion Powerball last November.

The last time someone won the Powerball jackpot was April 19 for a top prize of nearly $253 million. Since then, no one has won the grand prize in the past 38 consecutive drawings. The jackpot will keep growing until someone wins.

Powerball is played in 45 states, as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.